Dry mop and method of making the same



Feb. 4, 1969 T. c. Moss l 3,425,085

DRY MOP AND METHOD OF MAKNG THE SAME Fileld March 3l. 1966 INVENTOR THERO/V C. MOSS ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dry mop having a plurality of substantially parallel -rows of looped yarns attached to a support extending longitudinally of the support. At least one ring of looped yarns may also be attached to the support circumferentially of the mop. The looped yarns are turns or wrappings of yarn collapsed substantially centrally lo'ngitudinally to form looped yarns on opposite sides of the collapsed central section. Such mop is formed from a plurality of longitudinally extending turns or wrappin'gs which are collapsed substantially centrally longitudinally thereof and attached to a support member to form the indicated rows and circumferential ring.

This invention relates generally as indicated to a dry mop and more particularly to an improved mop of this type in which the component cords or yarns are arranged in such a manner as to enhance its usefulness and durability.

Dry mops customarily have generally consisted of strands of yarn secured to an elongated handle by a metallic holder. A certain amount of skill, however, is required to properly manipulate such mops for elective results, as mops of this type are cumbersome and unwieldly to use, particularly in cleaning certain areas as for example ledges and the like, since the mopping surfaces of such mops have little body or substance to effectively clean these areas. Moreover, the individual yarns of such mops have cut end portions which form the mopping surface, and these tend to easily unravel during use, thus causing the yarn to lose its strength, to become readily entangled and eventually to become matted together thus restricting the efficiency of the mops. Additionally, because of the metallic attachment means, furniture, baseboards, etc. can be easily damaged due to contact with the attachment means as the mop is used. It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a mop in which the yarns are arranged in such a manner as to provide a cushion or buifer zone about the circumference of the mop-to prevent contact between the holder and articles contacted by the mop in use, thus protecting such articles from damage or scratches.

A further object is to prpvide a mop in which the yarns are maintained in a particular looped arrangement so that they will not become entangled in use or when the mop is laundered.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a mop in which the cords are restrained against unraveling and which will not produce excessive lint when used or washed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mop which will have a longer useful life and which will present a full original quantity of yarn throughout its useful life.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become appartnt to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following more detailed description of the invention.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ice ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings;

FIG. 1 is a plan perspective view of one side of the mop of lthis invention with the central portion thereof omitted for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the opposite side of the mop of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the mop taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mop attached to a handle.

Referring now more particularly to ythe drawings and especially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mop designated generally by the numeral 1 is illustrated which comprises a multiplicity of twisted stranded yarns 2 (the term yarns as used herein is generic to all similar materials such as cords, etc.) attached to a support member 3 which may be simply a piece of canvas or a canvas backing for attachment of the mop to a suitable holder and handle. The yarns have looped ends and are arranged so that a plurality of substantially parallel rows .4, 5, 6 and 7 are provided extending longitudinally of the mop. At least one ring of the looped yarns 8 is also attached to the support member and extends kabout the circumference of the mop. A canvas backing, which in the illustrated embodiment is the support member, is secured to the mop and includes side flaps 9 and 10 and a plurality of straps 11 for attachment to the holder. -1

Referring now to FIG. 3, the construction of the mop and particularly the looped yarns isshown in greater detail. The rows and the circumferential ring of such yarns are formed from longitudinally extending annular Wrappings or turns of the yarn which are collapsed or compressed substantially centrally longitudinally thereof to form looped yarns onopposite sides of the collapsed central section. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the individual Wrappings are designatedby numerals 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 (wrapping 16 being the circumferential ring). The wrappings are thus collapsed at the midsection and secured in such position by adhesive ,tapes 17, which are preferably strips of masking tape, and also preferably further secured in such collapsed position by sewing the yarn wrappings together. It will, of course, be appreciated that the adhesive tapes may be omitted and the yarns maintained in such collapsed position by stitching, if desired. In any event, the linal product will usually be stitched or sewed to secure the yarns to the canvas backing.

In FIG. 4, a complete mop 20 is shown attached to a handle 21 -by a conventional rectangular plate holder 22 and canvas backing 23 which is tied about the holder as shown at 24.

To form the annular wrappings of yarn, yarn may be wrapped or helically wound -about two supporting pieces spaced apart a predetermined distance so that an annular wrapping is formed which extends longitudinally of such supporting pieces. After a wrapping of sufficient length has been formed, it will be collapsed substantially centrally thereof along its longitudinal axis so that looped yarns will be formed on opposite sides of the collapsed central section, as illustrated in FIG. 3. After the wrappings have been thus formed, they will then be attached to a support member as illustrated. The circumferential ring of looped yarns is, of course, formed from an annular wrapping which is of suflicient length to extend completely about the circumference of the mop Iand is secured to the support after being properly positioned.

Instead of the annular wrappings of yarn, as described above, the mop may also fbe formed from a ymultiplicity of turns of yarn which are formed by laying down the yarn on a supporting surface in a back and -forth or traversing movement whereby a longitudinally extending turn of the yarn will be formed. Such turns are then compressed or collapsed substantially centrally longitudinally thereof so that looped yarns are formed on opposite sides of the compressed central section as shown in FIG. 3. The yarns may Ibe secured in such compressed position by sewing together or by sewing directly to a fabric support. v

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the looped yarns adjacent the circumference of the .mop are of a greater length than those in the central section of the mop, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 3, so that a substantially flat mopping surface may be provided, whereby the most eicient use of such surface will be achieved. This may, of course, be readily accomplished by making the annular wrapping or turn of yarn which forms the circumferential ring of a greater width than those used to form the substantially parallel rows in the central portion of the mop. Alternatively, `the adhesive tape may be positioned on the wrapping or turn such that the outer loops which are formed are no longer than the inner loops of the same width of yarn, whereby two sets of loops are formed on opposite sides of the adhesive tape from each original single width of yarn with the outer loops being lonlger than the inner loops.

Although adhesive tapes have been described and 111us trated in forming the looped yarns, fabric tapes stitched to the yarns may be used and the yarns may also =be secured in the desired positions simply by stitching as mentioned previously. It is to be understood therefore that all such variations are considered to be within the scope of the invention.

Many materials are suitable for use in the mops of this invention including cotton, rayon, blends of rayon and cotton and blends of rayon, cotton and nylon, etc. Preferably, soft limp yarn or cord is used, with all cotton or a blend of cotton and rayon being especially suitable. Bleached hemp cord with a small percentage of braided nylon or other synthetic plastic strands such `as orlon or Dacron may also be used if desired.

The mop of this invention possesses many advantages with one of the principal advantages being the fact that a cushioning area or buffer zone is provided adjacent the circumference of the mop by the looped yarns which give additional body and greater bulk or substance to the mop than possessed by the open or cut end mops and thus serve to prevent damage to articles which the mop may contact as it is used. Similarly, it will be -appreciated that the mop may be produced by a relatively simple method and accordingly uniformity of the end product may be readily obtained. Moreover, the mop consists entirely of looped yarns which will not unravel as will cut ends, and this contributes to the production of a high quality product with a long useful life capable of withstanding repeated launderings and one in which the individual yarns will not lbecome easily entangled or produce lint either as the mop is used or when laundered.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A dry mop comprising a support member having a plurality of substantially parallel rows of looped yarns att-ached thereto and extending longitudinally thereof and at least one ring of looped yarns attached to said support circumferentially of the mop, said rows and said ring of looped yarns comprising longitudinally extending annular wrappings of yarn collapsed substantially centrally longitudinally thereof to form looped yarns on the opposite sides of said collapsed central section.

2. The dry mop of claim 1 in which said support member is a canvas backing for attachment of said mop to a frame and handle.

3. The mop of claim 2 in which a handle is secured to said mop.

4. The mop of claim 1 in which the looped yarns adjacent the circumference of said mop are of greater length than said looped yarns in the central section thereof.

5. The mop of claim 1 including adhesive tapes extending longitudinally of said annular wrappings to collapse the central section thereof.

6. The rnop of claim 1 in which said wrappings are stitched longitudinally thereof to form said collapsed central section.

7. A method of making a mop comprising forming a plurality of longitudinally extending annular wrappings of yarn, collapsing such wrappings substantially centrally longitudinally thereof thus forming looped yarns on opposite sides of such collapsed centrall section, attaching such wrappings to a support member to form a plurality of rows of such looped yarns, and attaching at least one such wrapping about the circumference of such support to form a ring of looped yarns circumferentially of the mop.

8. The method of claim 7 in which the wrappings of yarn are collapsed by stitching the yarns together.

9. The method of claim 7 in which the yarns are collapsed by applying adhesive tape substantially centrally of the cngth of such wrappings.

10. The method of claim 7 in which the annular wrapping forming the circumferential ring of looped yarns is of greater width than such wrappings forming the central section of such mop, whereby the looped yarns about the circumference of the mop are of greater length than the looped yarns in the central section thereof.

11. The method of claim 7 in which a canvas backing is subsequently secured to the mop yfor attachment of the mop to a holder.

12. A dry mop comprising a substantially flat support member, means on said support member to attach said support to a handle, a plurality of substantially parallel rows of looped yarns attached to said support member on one surface thereof and extending longitudinally thereof, each of said rows of looped yarns comprising longitudinally extending turns of yarn collapsed substantially centrally longitudinally thereof to form looped yarns on the opposite sides of said collapsed central section.

13. A dry mop comprising a substantially ilat support mem'her, means on said support member to attach said support to a handle, a plurality of substantially parallel rows of looped yarns attached to said support member on one surface thereof and extending longitudinally thereof, each of said rows of looped yarns comprising longitudinally extending annular wrappings of yarn collapsed substantially centrally longitudinally thereof to form looped yarns on the opposite sides of said collapsed central section.

14. The mop of claim 13 including adhesive tapes extending longitudinally of said annular wrappings to collapse the central section thereof.

15. The mop of claim 13 in which said wrappings are stitched longitudinally thereof to form said collapsed central section.

16. A dry mop comprising a support member having a plurality of substantially parallel rows of looped yarns attached thereto and extending longitudinally thereof and at least one ring of looped yarns attached to said support circumferentially of the mop, said rows and said ring comprising longitudinally extending annular wrappings of yarn collapsed substantially centrally longitudinally thereof to form looped yarns on the opposite sides of said collapsed central section, said looped yarns adjacent the cir- 5 cumference of said mop being of ygreater length than said looped yarns in the central section thereof, said wrappings being stitched longitudinally thereof to form said co1- lapsed central section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 2,929,087 3/ 1960 Salmon 15-229 3,251,596 5/1966 Niizaki 15-217 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 2,012,334 11/ 1935 Australia. 865,933 2/ 1953 Germany.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner.

U.S. C1. X.R.

1,940,543 12/ 1933 Hertzberg 15-229 2,448,928 9/ 1948 Stahl 161-66 XR 2,790,981 5/1957 Stuvel 15-229 10 300-21 

